THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified measures to protect and further improve its cybersecurity infrastructure amid growing concerns over overseas digital intrusions targeting the country’s key institutions.
This came after a Microsoft report identified the Philippines as the fifth most targeted country by Chinese state-sponsored cyber operations.
“There is no room for complacency, especially regarding the security of our digital infrastructure. We in the PNP must be alert and implement the necessary measures against any and all emerging threats that come with modern communication technology,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Sunday.
Microsoft reported that Chinese state actors have focused on large-scale information gathering involving a wide range of targets. The report said their activities remained centered on maintaining long-term access to systems to facilitate espionage.
Nartatez said the PNP is studying the report and will use the information to strengthen the protection and operational readiness of concerned PNP units and offices.
He likewise underscored the need for a whole-of-nation approach to protect the country’s digital ecosystem, noting that cybersecurity requires close collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders.
“We are coordinating with other concerned agencies such as the DICT and the CICC to enhance our cybersecurity infrastructure and prevent any attempt to compromise the security of our data,” Nartatez said.
